Have you ever used a Linux machine? My brain functions similarly, with everything being organized as files/data. I have total multisensory aphantasia, a neurodivergence that leaves my brain unable to consciously conjure up images, sounds, smells, tastes, and textures. I've never been able to visualize in my mind – when I think of a star, my brain gives off a vibe/energy that feels like the concept of a star, I don't 'see' anything.
Cases as extreme as mine are extremely rare, as total aphantasia affects less than 1% of the population. The most common type of aphantasia, visual, only affects around 2-4% of the population.
I always have thoughts going through my mind, it's just not something I hear. Every thought is energy that I interpret, which can make explaining different concepts difficult. Yes, I get songs stuck in my head, or even just parts of songs, but I don't 'hear' the music. But, just because I can't hear it, it doesn't mean that I don't know what it sounds like. I can still know the melody or words or whatever, it's just energy.
Even when I was a kid, I couldn't 'see' stuff in my mind. I had the *concepts* of imaginary friends, but I couldn't visualize them. Really, the closest I get to visualizing is when I'm reading. It's still not a picture, but it's more substantial than just energy.
The part I find most perplexing, though, is that my dreams (rare they may be) are *loaded* with sensory experiences. I can't voluntarily call an image to mind, but my subconscious brain can still generate sensory content when I'm asleep.
There is a big way I feel like I'm at an advantage with aphantasia: learning languages. Languages are often formulaic; they follow rules, there's a specific order to say things, but they're also lots and lots of data. Every word gets added to my 'database' in my mind (kind of why I chose a Linux system for my analogy) and I don't have to convert a sensory image (like a picture of an apple) into a word in whatever language I'm working on; I access the concept of 'APPLE' directly and pluck the appropriate label out of the database.
I know I'm not alone, as rare as I may be. Let me know if you don't experience sensory thinking, sharing our experiences will help others get it. And if you can see images and hear sounds, what's the coolest thing you can call to mind right now? Like, can you see a dragon 🐉 if you think about one?
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